In the United States, commercial airline pilots have seen a significant increase in their earnings thanks to a series of pay raises implemented after the pandemic. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which together have a workforce of nearly 50,000 pilots, have all finalized attractive contracts in the past few years. These contracts are designed to not only attract new talent but also to retain their existing workforce, addressing an ongoing labor shortage. The remuneration for pilots now includes hundreds of dollars per hour of flight time, with this amount increasing annually as pilots gain more seniority.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for an airline pilot in the U.S. is just over $250,000. However, due to the recent pay increases coupled with additional earnings from holiday pay and profit-sharing, some pilots are now earning twice this amount.
When it comes to the starting salaries, first officers—who generally have less experience and occupy the right seat in the cockpit—have an initial pay rate of approximately $116 per hour at American and United Airlines, regardless of the type of aircraft they operate. At Delta Air Lines, this rate is around $113.75 per hour for first-year pilots across all types of aircraft.
With each passing year, pilots advance in their careers, gaining seniority and significant salary increases. Many pilots advance to captain positions on Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft, undertaking long-haul flights from U.S. hubs to destinations in Europe, and the Americas, and even ultra-long-haul flights to locations as distant as South Africa, Japan, and Australia. For veteran pilots at American and United flying these categories of planes, their pay will peak at around $500 per hour by the time their contracts end in 2027. At Delta, the peak rate will be about $475 per hour when the current contract concludes in 2026.
It's important to note that pilot compensation encompasses more than just a base hourly rate. Each airline offers unique packages that include the potential for additional earnings through mechanisms such as profit sharing, bonuses, per diems, incentive rates, and holiday pay. However, since these extra income sources can vary due to operational factors, they are not accounted for in this discussion.
Between base pay and extra incentives, the annual pay stubs are reading mid-six figures for the industry's most senior pilots.
Airline-pilot pay is complex, though, and depends on the pilot's seniority, their position, and the type of aircraft they fly, among other factors.
Not your usual 40-hour workweek
Airline pilots at American, Delta, and United are paid in "block time," meaning they earn their full hourly rate only from gate to gate, earning per diems or other allowances to make up the work between flights.
Some pilots are paid to be on "reserve" when not scheduled to fly. These hours pay the same rate and have guaranteed minimums of 70 to 75 hours, depending on the airline, according to the Air Line Pilots Association.
For simplicity, the monthly and annual salary totals below are based on airline pilots who hold a "line," meaning they have a set month's schedule and are not on call. The ALPA said these pilots typically fly around 80 hours a month but can fly up to 100, per federal law.
Here's a breakdown of the base pay pilots at American, Delta, and United earn per hour of payable time, according to contracts sent to Business Insider from the airline or its union. Salaries will increase over four years, but the base pay rates outlined for each airline reflect 2024.
American Airlines
First Officers
First-year first officer: about $116 an hour on any aircraft type.
12-year first officer: between $246 and $255 an hour on narrow-bodies and about $305 on wide-bodies.
A first-year officer flying 80 hours each month would make about $9,300 monthly before taxes and other earnings, or about $111,000 yearly. That would jump to about $293,000 annually for a 12-year wide-body first officer.
Captains
First-year captain: between $331 and $340 an hour on narrow-bodies and about $410 on wide-bodies.
12-year captain: between $360 and $374 an hour on narrow-bodies and about $447 on wide-bodies.
A first-year captain flying 80 hours each month on most narrow-bodies would make about $26,500 monthly before taxes and other earnings, or about $318,000 yearly. That would jump to about $430,000 annually for a 12-year wide-body captain.
Delta Air Lines
First Officers
First-year first officer: about $113.75 an hour on any aircraft type.
12-year first officer: between $216 and about $300 an hour, depending on the aircraft type.
A first-year officer flying 80 hours each month would make about $9,100 monthly before taxes and other earnings, or about $109,000 yearly. That would jump to about $288,000 annually for a 12-year first officer on most of Delta's wide-bodies.
Captains
First-year captain: between $290 and about $402 an hour, depending on the aircraft type.
12-year captain: between $316 and about $438 an hour, depending on the aircraft type.
A first-year captain flying 80 hours each month on Delta's lowest-rate narrow-body, a Boeing 717, would make about $23,200 monthly before taxes and other earnings, or about $278,00 yearly. That would jump to about $420,000 yearly for a 12-year captain on most of Delta's wide-bodies.
United Airlines
First Officers
First-year first officer: about $116 an hour on any aircraft type.
12-year first officer: between $245 and about $305 an hour, depending on the aircraft type.
A first-year officer flying 80 hours each month would make about $9,300 monthly before taxes and other earnings, or about $111,000 yearly. That would jump to about $293,000 annually for a 12-year first officer on most of United's wide-bodies.
Captains
First-year captain: between $329 and about $410 an hour, depending on the aircraft type.
12-year captain: between $358 and about $447 per hour, depending on the aircraft type.
A first-year captain flying 80 hours each month on United's lowest-end Airbus and Boeing narrow-bodies would make about $26,300 monthly before taxes and other earnings, or about $316,000 yearly. That would jump to about $429,000 yearly for a 12-year captain on most of United's wide-bodies.